Aibu to not buy 2 year old dd a train ticket for a long journey?

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I'm hoping to travel up to Scotland in the new year to visit my parents. The train journey will take about 8 hours in total. I will be travelling with my 2 year old and 5 year old by myself. Money is tight so I was please to discover I didn't have to buy my 2 year old a ticket. However I have since learnt that she doesn't automatically get a seat, she can only sit on one if it's not reserved. I have no idea if the train will be busy (crewe to edinborough, edinborough to Aberdeen) on a Thursday and returning Tuesday in early jan. it will cost about £30 more to buy my 2 year old a ticket, which is a lot to us. Aibu to hope that the train will be quiet and dd will get a seat or should I just accept that this trip is going to cost more than I thought?

YABVU to buy any ticket to Edinborough as there's no such place in Scotland.

Perhaps you should buy one to Edinburgh instead, presuming it's the capital you want to travel to of course.

I took a jam packed train this evening with no ticket for DS age 3. It was fine, even though so rammedI couldn't get to my single reserved seat. I put DS on my lap for a while, then a very kind lady with a spare next to her offered to swap.

I'd never expect it though and always be prepared to have him on my lap. Isoldone how rude to be arsey about someone claiming their booked seat!

Simple logic if you expect the 2 year old to use a seat book it, if not then don't book it. But I think it's a bit off to use a seat you have not paid for as some others suggest. I think the age limit on rail travel is 2. I have traveled with an infant booked from 2 as that is what the rules suggested when I looked into it.

That was the point - 3 of us round a table . Our seats reserved Opposite free seats. It's possible but appreciate awkward to do work there on the flip down tray. This was a Sunday evening btw. She had every right granted but really would you ?!? sleeping just one year old ? A million bags to move and sit opposite the other family members and start work ? I don't have the brass neck as it were ! Id suck it up and sit at the other free seats.

Age limit is definitely 4.

It possibly depends who you book through as British rail say 2 children under 5 free per paying adult, but train line charged me when I rang to book through them. It's worth checking out.

I'd been on the train for 4 hours . I wasn't rude to her!! Only my expression gave my feelings away !

On the other hand if the train is as busy as some are suggesting you may get the evil eye for hogging the seat for such little ones when they could both squeeze up beside you.

I travelled up from London to Edinburgh on a heaving train (post Olympics) with DH and our two 3yos, all with tickets, comfortably seated at our pre-booked table. I offered up one of our seats to an elderly lady who would otherwise have been standing/sitting on the floor by the toilets.

If I saw someone seated with a 2 year old on their lap I wouldn't be giving up my reserved seat for them.

a bum no matter how tiny is a bum on a seat really at the end of the day. You pay for a seat.

Surely either you or one of your parents could have swapped with the lady and sat opposite? Save moving DS

After all I presume she needed the table so wouldn't have minded sitting in A, B or C rather than her reserved D. (For example)

But children under 5 travel free, if you want to guarantee them a seat you have to pay that's all

isoldeone if you haven't paid for the seat you have no right to occupy it. I feel sorry for laptop woman now.

Children under 5 are free on Scotrail so the 1 yo was entitled to a seat. That doesnt trump a seat reservation though and I think you were cheekily assuming the person who had reserved wouldn't ask you to move Isoldene. I think good on her for claiming her seat tbh.

It is really hard to work on a laptop on one of the flip-down trays, which is why I would always reserve a table seat. I'm afraid I'm with the PP - my employer is paying me to work on the train - why should I not work because a baby is occupying my seat? It feels a little like parties of three that occupy a table and then put bags on the fourth seat so that no one can sit there.

No she specifically wanted seat d - the one occupied by my ds. My parents travelled on their senior railcards . I'd bought a full price ticket . I tried to book the 4 th seat but was advised it be fine and not to bother for a baby . I moved without protest on her request . I had move because my son had no reservation . A ticket from Glasgow to Brum is not cheap. She had a right . Er no laptop btw . Just paperwork . Opposite other free seats .
To other poster - on any other short train journey ie London midland - my ds now ends up on my lap if the train is busy . I don't expect a free seat!

Why did your son end up on your knee why couldn't he or another adult, it doesn't make sence, or you and your son together could have moved to the two spare seats

I guess it depends on your children and your patience levels. I have spent a 10 hour train journey on my own with a 2 year old on my lap and a 4 year old to amuse, but I realise that is not for everyone. The return journey when we did manage to have separate seats for everyone was far more comfortable.

I think I would pay then I know I could relax and enjoy the journey. I wouldn't for a short trip.

If laptop lady had a reservation surely the seat would have been reserved? A ticket in itself is not a seat reservation.

As I posted earlier I moved to other seats opposite Ds was asleep in car seat . I couldn't have him on lap. This was a virgin train . So yes bags , what not all have to be moved . She had a right - hence I moved. Interesting how many people would also move a baby stand coolly by. She was matter of fact . I too would claim my seat say if it was just ordinary folk and the train was packed. My point is I wouldn't move a mum and baby , I'd suck it up and take the free seat but with anyone I'd be apologetic or just say sorry I be booked this seat . This lady did neither.

I will add that I paid for only 2 seats on my outward journey through necessity, not choice. I could not get more than 2 seats together and a third seat halfway down the carriage wasn't an option.

It's a couple of years ago so I can't remember. I think the reservation shows up on the digital display once at the lady's stop. 4 hours previously when we got on - it only shows ours. But I could be wrong . I know the paper tickets on seats show when someone might get on and claim a seat . Btw - again she had no laptop!

My point is I wouldn't move a mum and baby , I'd suck it up and take the free seat

If I'd reserved a seat and someone else had taken it I'd certainly claim it. I don't see that a sleeping baby trumps a reservation.

isoldeone if you didn't pay for the seat then you don't have a right to occupy it. This kind of thinking is what gives parents of young children a bad reputation, imho. The reason that you don't have to pay for them on trains or planes or only pay half fare for them on buses is because you can have them on your lap. I travelled on trains loads when my son was little and didn't buy a ticket for him and while I put him on his own seat when the train wasn't busy, as soon as there were people needing seats I would have him on my lap.

That's where we will have to agree to differ then ilovesooty.